CYP Now - Analysis: Sudden infant deaths - The debate behind the terminology

The latest sudden infant death figures published by the Office for National Statistics are the first to include unascertained infant deaths. Tristan Donovan examines whether this seemingly small move will help lay to rest concerns about the term.

Good news is not normally associated with the annual figures on suddeninfant deaths, yet the latest figures do mark two small but importantimprovements.

Firstly, the number of unexplained infant deaths fell to 261, down from299 in 2003 and significantly down on the 334 in 2000. Secondly, thenumber of unexplained deaths recorded as "unascertained" are includedfor the first time alongside the number put down as "sudden infantdeath".

For campaigners such as Joyce Epstein, director of the Foundation forthe Study of Infant Deaths, this seemingly small change is an importantstep in improving our understanding of the problem. "It's encouraging tosee the 'unascertained' statistics published with the 'sudden infantdeath' ones," she says. "I'm glad to see them there. It's a matter ofaccuracy to include them."

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